REP. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito Estrada of San Juan City on Thursday appealed to President Benigno Aquino 3rd to realign the funds used in the government’s anti-poverty program and instead allocate it to education and job creation.

“Since poverty arises from joblessness, which in turn is rooted in lack of education, the government should ensure all Filipinos are given a chance to study,” Ejercito said in a statement.

Ejercito said that it is necessary to phase out the Conditional Cash Transfer Program (CCT), adding that it merely promotes a “mendicant mindset” among the poor.

“At best, CCT temporarily fills the hungry stomachs of the poor. But it does not provide any lasting good,” he added.

CCT is the major component of the recently ratified 2013 national budget, with P44.25B earmarked for distribution to 3.8M indigent families.

The lawmaker also said that the able-bodied should not be given dole-outs but instead be required to learn a trade, and work for the money.

According to him, the government should focus on creating opportunities for the poor to study and work.

Ejercito meanwhile reiterated his call to increase the budget of state universities and colleges to P45 billion in 2014. The lawmaker also asked the government to ensure a more equitable distribution among the government educational institutions.